She swallowed again.
“Should I ask your pa?”
“You saw him. This probably isn’t a good time to ask him anything.” Or maybe it was a very good time. Pa probably wouldn’t remember a thing tomorrow.
Crockett shrugged. “I’ll ask him if you want.”
“You don’t have to. I make my own decisions now.”
He looked into her eyes for a moment and then said, “I’m glad.”
Jane felt hot all over. She wanted to spill everything, to tell him how hard it had been for her and Ben. How she’d come to the conclusion that if she didn’t stand up for herself, no one would. How many times Pa had come home from town inebriated after her mother died. She and Ben had learned to hide, and when that failed, to defend themselves. They had poured out liquor and hidden his ammunition until he sold his rifle to buy more drink. How many times had she braved Pa’s anger to keep him from beating Ben?
“I’m surprised you’d want to see me,” she squeaked out.
His expression softened. “Why?”
“Because of Pa.” Well, mostly because of Pa. She also wondered why he would choose her over other young women in the county. Women who had real families. Women who didn’t spend all day doing ranch chores and trying to keep their drunken fathers from destroying the place.
“You think he’d object?”
“Probably not. He’d probably think I’d snagged me a good one. But he’d want something in return.”
“I think I can handle your pa.”
“Really?”
Crockett nodded. “My pa scares me a whole lot more than yours.”
She started to laugh, but she saw that he was serious.
“I should probably tell you,” he went on, “my Pa’s got this bee in his bonnet that all us boys should get married. Soon.”
Jane frowned. “Is that why Hays and Chisholm and Travis and—and—”
“Houston?”
“Yes, Houston,” she said. “Is that why they all got married this year?”
“Well, I’d like to think it was love in each case, but I’m sure Pa’s order had something to do with it. He sees it as giving us all a kick in the pants to get on with continuing the Hart family.”
“Oh.”
He cocked his head to one side. “What?”
“Is that why you said that you want to … you know, court me?”
“Not really. This summer, I’d about made up my mind to ignore what Pa said. Just keep on the way I have been—and maybe even set out on my own if Pa didn’t like it. And then I got to know you better. That and seeing how happy my married brothers are, well, it sort of made me feel Pa might not have such a bad idea. And I realized, I really do want my own place. Pa won’t give me my share of the land if I don’t get married this year. I was feeling like that was a lot to ask of us, but now…”
She sat there a bit numb. She had no parlor in which to entertain a suitor. The idea of a suitor—and a strong, handsome man from a substantial family, at that—stunned her. Whatever did he see when he looked at her that made him want to get to know her better and possibly move toward marriage? Eligible women didn’t exactly grow on trees in Texas, but there were scads more pretty than her, who would come into a marriage with a hope chest full of linens and such.
She pulled in a deep breath, still not sure why he had picked her. “Then I say yes. You can see what you’re up against.”
He nodded, smiling. “I’ve got my eyes open.”
“All right then.”
“I’ll come Monday about the roof, and maybe we can take a walk after. Or ride out and check your stock together.”
“You’ll spoil me.”
“I hope so.” Crockett grasped her hand and pulled her to her feet.
Jane declined Crockett’s invitation to dance again.
“I shouldn’t,” she said.
He supposed he had monopolized her, but he didn’t care. Of course, etiquette said he ought to dance with some other young women, at least with his sisters-in-law. He saw a few of the ladies starting to pack up the things left on the refreshment table.
“I’ll go help with the cleanup,” Jane said.
“All right. See you later.”
But before she could reach the table, one of the cowboys from the Hart ranch intercepted her. Crockett couldn’t hear what he said, but he led Jane over to join one of the groups forming for a square dance. Crockett smiled and ambled away, keeping to the edge of the activity.
As he strolled along the fence, he saw someone saddling a horse in the shadow of the barn. The party was beginning to break up.
He stopped short when he realized the man was Ben. Why would Ben be throwing a saddle on his horse now? Crockett ducked through the rail fence and walked over to stand behind him.
“Going someplace, Ben?”
Jane’s brother whirled and blinked at him. “Oh. Crockett. Yeah, I … was going to ride out and see if I could get back to Leonards’ tonight. I might still be able to get in a few days’ work there, and we need the cash.”
“Does Jane know?”
Ben shook his head. “She’ll understand.”
“Will she?” Crockett eyed him carefully. “She needs you, Ben. There’s a lot left to do here.”
“The neighbors have all been so nice. I figured this would be the time to go, when folks are feeling kindly toward her. At least three people have told me tonight that they’ll help us again if we need it. She’ll be all right.”
“Do you think she can handle your pa alone?”
Ben let out a deep breath. “I don’t know. He’s been drinking tonight. I think some of the boys from town brought whiskey. But we’ve put up with that for a long time. If she can get him to the cave—or even in the barn—he can sleep it off.”
Crockett thought about that, and the money in the cave. What if the Rangers came and took Boyd off to prison? Then Jane would be totally alone. She couldn’t run the ranch by herself.
“Can’t you hold off just a little while?”
“Why?” Ben asked. “The longer I wait, the less chance I have of getting work.”
“She might need you. More.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Crockett hesitated. The story wasn’t his to tell, and Jane had purposely kept it from Ben.
“Just talk to Janie first. There’s things you don’t know, Ben.”
“What do you mean?”
“Please, just wait a day or two and talk to your sister.”
“Talk to me about what?” Jane asked.
Crockett turned to find her approaching them. She looked at the horse. “Where are you going?”
Ben’s mouth skewed. “Back to the Leonards’ to see if they’ll take me on again, even though I didn’t come back all week.”
“You said you’d tell me.” Jane stepped closer to him. “I wish you wouldn’t go just now. You can send a note to Mr. Leonard if you want, and explain about the fire. But I…” She grimaced and turned her face away.
“What?” Ben said.
Crockett touched her shoulder lightly. “I was saying to Ben that you might need him these next few days. Maybe you two should talk.”
After a moment, Jane nodded. “You’re right. It’s time.”
“What’s going on?” Ben asked.
Quickly, Jane told him about the money she had found in the cave and the bill she had passed along to Chisholm Hart.
“He thinks it came from the State Treasury robbery, Ben. He’s going to try to find out for sure.”
“The State—” Ben stared at her. “That was years ago.”
“Yes. You were ten or eleven, I’d say,” Jane said.
“But—what are you saying? You think Pa was in on that robbery?”
“I don’t know.”
Ben’s eyebrows lowered. “Was Pa at home then?”
“I’ve tried to remember,” Jane said. “We were young, and it’s kind of blurry. I remember when I first heard about
it. A boy came to school and told everybody. I don’t know how his parents heard. Maybe they read it in the newspaper, or maybe his father heard it from the sheriff. Anyway, that might have been several days after it actually happened.”
“It was right after the war,” Crockett said. “Communication was spotty back then.”
“Pa might have been away, and we wouldn’t remember,” Ben agreed.
“What you all jawin’ about?”
Chapter Seven
Jane jumped at the harsh voice and turned around. Crockett drew in a quick breath. Pa was standing in the doorway at the back of the barn.
“Mr. Haymaker,” Crockett said in his easy tone. Jane didn’t know how he could sound so calm. Her own heart was racing.
Pa took two steps down the ramp they used for the wheelbarrow and stumbled against the rough railing Ben had put up last year, after Pa tumbled off into the muck one too many times.
“It’s all right, Pa.” Ben hurried toward him and took his arm. “We were just talking to Crockett about the old days. You know, when we were all in school.”
Pa looked Crockett over, his eyes squinty and harsh. His gaze fell on Jane next. She stood as still as she could. Then he noticed Ben’s horse.
“You headin’ out tonight?” He pulled his head back, birdlike, and stared at Ben.
Ben’s mouth twisted, and Jane figured he’d gotten a strong whiff of Pa’s whiskey breath. “I was thinking about going back to Leonards’ to earn some money, but Janie said I ought to stay a while longer.”
Crockett walked toward them. “My brothers and I will come back Monday morning to help finish up the roof on the new house.”
“Pa, you ought to go to bed,” Jane said.
“Now? We’ve got guests.” Pa had a hard time wrapping his tongue around the s sounds in guests.
“They’re fixin’ to leave now,” Ben told him. “Come on. Let’s put you on Star, and I’ll take you up to the cave.”
“I ain’t goin’ up to that cave now.” Pa squirmed away from him.
“In the barn, then. I’ll make you a bed in the hay. It’ll be nice and soft—softer than the blankets you’ve been sleeping on at the cave.”
“Not till I say good night to ever’body.”
“All right, we’ll go out front and say good-bye. Come on.” Ben took his arm again and turned him carefully to face the barn door.
“I should probably go out there, too.” Jane looked at Crockett, wishing she could stay out here in the corral with the manure smells and horses and wait until everyone else was gone. But her ma wouldn’t have hidden from her guests, even when Pa embarrassed her.
“You go ahead,” Crockett said. “I’ll put Ben’s saddle away.”
“Thank you.” She headed for the back barn door. Pa was arguing with Ben, who was still trying to keep him from going out into the yard. The music had stopped, and people were moving about beyond the open front door. She decided to duck out on the altercation and went back out the rear of the barn. Crockett was sliding the saddle off Star’s back.
“Beware,” she said. “Pa’s still fussing.”
Crockett grinned. “I’ll see if I can distract him. Go on, now.”
Jane hurried to the fence and ducked through the rails. The refreshment table was nearly bare. As she approached, Mrs. Allen saw her.
“Oh, good, there you are, Jane. I’m leaving the last of my fried chicken and some cake for you folks. It’s right here, in this basket.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Jane said. “I’ll make sure and get the basket back to you.”
“No hurry. This was a very nice gathering, dear. You should come into town more often.”
“Yes, ma’am.” As if she had time to leave the ranch, or money to spend in town.
“Drop by the mercantile when you do,” Mrs. Mortenson said. “If it’s not too busy, we’ll sneak upstairs for a cup of tea.”
Jane smiled sincerely. “I’d like that very much.”
Coralee Hart, Houston’s new wife, came toward them. “Jane! I’ve got some cookies in here for y’all.”
“Oh, thank you.” Jane accepted a bundle made up of a napkin wrapped and tied around something lumpy.
Coralee bent close and kissed her cheek. “Don’t be a stranger at the ranch, now, will you?”
“I…” Jane had no idea how to respond to that, but Coralee didn’t seem to notice.
“We’re heading home now. Emma’s tired.”
“Oh, it was so nice of her to come,” Jane cried. “I need to thank her.”
“Best hurry, then. Hays is putting her in the buggy now.”
“Excuse me, won’t you?” Jane said to Mrs. Mortenson.
“Of course. See you soon.”
Jane dropped Coralee’s cookie bundle into the basket and hurried beside her to where Hays was settling his wife on the buggy seat. Houston was bridling the horse that pulled the buggy.
“Emma, Hays, thank you so much for coming,” Jane said.
“We had a grand time,” Emma replied, reaching for her hand.
“I’m glad. But I hope you didn’t wear yourself out.”
Emma shook her head. “I enjoyed it. But I’ll probably sleep all day tomorrow.”
Jane stepped back so Coralee could climb up. Houston stepped forward and gave his wife his hand, calling over his shoulder, “Got your fiddle, Hays?”
“It’s in the boot.”
“Thank you for playing,” Jane said.
“You’re very welcome.” Hays threw her a dazzling smile. “Seems like I saw you getting in a dance or two, Jane.”
She pulled in a deep breath. There was no need to be shy around the big, loud Hart boys. They were friendly, and after all, Hays was an old classmate of hers.
“Well, I did,” she said. “A couple of your brothers were kind enough to ask me.”
“Next time, if I’m not fiddling, I’ll get a turn,” Hays said. He climbed into the buggy last and tipped his hat as Houston flicked the reins. “Night, now.”
Crockett rode over to the new house Monday morning, after the Hart family had eaten breakfast and cleared their plans with his father. The 7 Heart had plenty of cowpunchers to take care of the routine business at home, so Houston and Bowie joined Crockett for a day of roofing.
When they got to Haymakers’, Ben and Jane were in the yard, tidying up from their breakfast. Boyd was nowhere in sight.
“All right to turn our horses out in the corral?” Crockett asked as he dismounted.
“Sure,” Jane said. “Ben’s ready to help you.”
Bowie drove up with several bundles of shingles in the ranch wagon. His long hair fell down by his face, partly hiding the scars on his left cheek, but nothing hid the black eye patch he wore. He’d helped work yesterday but had slipped away before the dancing began. Crockett was a bit surprised and very pleased that he had agreed to come help Ben again today. He pulled the wagon up as close to the new house as he could.
“Morning, Bowie,” Jane called. He looked her way and lifted a hand in silent greeting.
Crockett began working the cinch free on his saddle. “How’s your pa doing?” he asked Jane.
“He’s still asleep, yonder in the barn. Ben finally got him to lie down in the straw, and he stayed there all night. He was snoring away when I looked in a while ago.”
“I hope our hammering doesn’t wake him,” Houston said.
“Won’t matter if it does,” Jane replied. “I thought I’d take my horse up to the cave and start moving stuff down here to the house while y’all are working on the roof.”
“Sure,” Crockett said. “You can move right in. Do you care which part we do first?”
“Maybe get the kitchen done, so I can cook in there and not worry about the foodstuffs if it rains?”
“That sounds fine.” Crockett lifted his saddle off the horse’s back and laid it over the top fence rail. They unloaded the shingles, and Bowie unharnessed the team and turned them out. The hot, dry weather of
August had dried out most of the grass, and he had brought some feed in the wagon, to keep their horses contented while they worked.
Ben, Crockett, and Houston climbed the ladder they’d made the day before, to the bare rafters. They nailed a few boards in place on the rough sheathing to help them stay steady while they put on the shingles. Bowie carried the first bundle up, and they tore into the work. The next time Crockett paid any attention, Jane was standing down below the ladder with a bucket and dipper in her hands.
“Got a batch of switchel here, if you boys want a drink, and there’s leftover cake from last night.”
“Perfect,” Houston said, heading for the ladder.
Crockett climbed down after him and Ben and accepted a tin cup of the molasses, vinegar, and ginger drink. Nothing seemed to quench thirst like switchel.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Bowie said, taking his portion from Jane last.
“You’re welcome. There’s more in the bucket, and the cake’s over there.” She pointed to where she had set out the leftovers on the rough outside table. Looking up at the roof, she said, “You’re making good time.”
“Many hands,” Crockett said with a smile. “We hope you’ll be settled in tonight.”
“Well, I brought down all the cooking things people gave us this last week. I’m going to start arranging the kitchen.”
“We’ll hook that stove up for you before we go,” Houston said. “Brought some new stovepipe along.”
“I didn’t think about that. Thank you.” Jane picked up a bulging burlap sack and walked into the new house.
Crockett sat down beside Ben on a bench in the shade of the barn eaves. “You’ll be needing some furniture, now that you’ve got a house.”
“We can get by,” Ben said.
“Let us know if you’re lacking something. I’d think you’d at least need bedsteads and a table and some chairs. Maybe a cupboard or two.”
“We’ll manage.”
Crockett smiled. “Ben, don’t be so stubborn. I know you’re pretty much the man of the house here, but you can’t do everything yourself.”
Ben exhaled heavily. “I just want to be able to earn enough so Jane doesn’t have to work so hard.”
“Is that all?” Crockett smiled. “It’s a pretty tall order.”
Seven Brides for Seven Texans Romance Collection Page 37